No UK benefits for Accession Countries
[23 February 2004]



069/2004


NO UK BENEFITS FOR EU ACCESSION COUNTRIES

EU accession nationals will be able to work legally in the UK and contribute to our economy, however tough new rules will prevent them accessing benefits for two years and possibly longer, Home Secretary David Blunkett announced today.

From 1 May nationals of the new member countries will be able to move freely around the EU without immigration restrictions. A new registration scheme, also announced today, will enable the Government to very closely monitor the numbers of people coming to the UK from the new EU countries and impose restrictions to protect the labour market if necessary.

The UK has decided to allow workers to come legally to this country to help fill labour shortages and avoid fuelling the sub-economy.

The Government is also amending the rules under which a range of social security benefits and public services are provided, including access to housing support, health care and child benefit, to ensure that they are not abused.

Mr Blunkett, said:

“The measures we are announcing today send a very clear message - if you register you can come to the UK to work legally and contribute but you cannot claim benefits.

“The UK has always welcomed hard working immigrants seeking to better themselves and contribute to our prosperity. Tougher benefit rules will make sure our generosity is not exploited.

“The obligation we have placed on working accession nationals to register with us is part of our wider crack down on illegal working. It will also pave the way for the introduction of ID cards which will eventually be given to all EU nationals living in the UK. If the registration scheme shows an imbalance in the labour market we will re-impose restrictions.

“These measures will enable the workers we need to work here legally rather than fuelling the sub-economy - a modern-day slave trade, exploiting migrant workers and undercutting UK employees.

“This will build on our commitment to a flexible but regulated migration policy. It is in Britain's best interest to welcome legal overseas workers to help fill skills gaps and the 550,000 vacancies in our labour market.”

The new “workers registration scheme” will enable the Government to monitor in what region and what types of employment accession nationals are coming. If the labour market comes under pressure and UK jobs are threatened, restrictions could be re-introduced. As soon as they have found work, nationals from new member countries will have to register under the scheme. This will prove they have permission to reside and work in the UK - and will be checked by employers.

Other government departments will be bringing forward regulations to ensure that income-related benefits, housing support and child benefit are not abused.

To ensure that those affected are aware of the new rules before they come to the UK, the Home Office is working with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to put in place an information campaign in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. The campaign will communicate a simple message - “You can come to the UK to work, if you register, but you cannot claim benefits”.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Home Secretary made an announcement to the House of Commons on Monday 23 January.

2. Regulations will be introduced to set up the workers registration scheme and to give the right to reside here to registered workers, and to work-seekers from the eight Accession Countries only if they are self-sufficient. The regulations will be laid in March 2004 to come into effect on 1 May 2004.

3. The Department for Work and Pensions will amend social security legislation so that only people with a right to reside in the UK will have access to Income Support, income-based Job Seeker's allowance, State Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
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pak shte ima syzdavane na razganichenia mezhdu novi i stari chlenove na EU